I know a bumper isn't exactly "hardcore", but since it's fabrication I thought it might fit here. I just finished my next step in my "fab skill building" - first was rocker guards, now the bumper/swingout - next will be some skid plates I think. The best part was that the vast majority of this was made with scrap steel, so it didn't cost much to build.....

Left side view - mine's mounted a little bit further back so I could fit more stuff on there (hi-lift, shovel, axe, jerry can, CB antenna). I gave up a little bit of departure angle, but for now I think it was well worth it to get all this junk organized and solidly mounted instead of just flopping around in my cab. I wanted to balance the load on the swingout front and back to take some stress of the pivot joint. If I find that the loss of departure angle is a problem - I guess I can cut it down and re-do it:D That 31" tire looks pretty small there, but that changed today. I built it big enough to hold 35's with a little room to spare.
http://www.jinenkanseigi.com/Rear%20Bumper%20Left.jpg

Back View - I put the clevis mounts right at the frame width to directly transfer pulling stresses to the frame and welded front and back, as well as the receiver hitch. Mounts are 7/8" thick 2" wide steel.
http://www.jinenkanseigi.com/Rear%20Bumper%20Back.jpg

Right side view - getting the gas can out of the cab was a BIG reason I started this project - man that thing stunk! The jack fits over a stud at the bottom and is held in place by a wing nut on top - one nut and it's off, but seems to be pretty solid. The only rattles come from the handle, and a handle isolator is already on the way.
http://www.jinenkanseigi.com/Rear%20Bumper%20Right.jpg

Frame Brackets - 1/4" x 4" angle iron, cut down and mounted on both sides of the frame.
http://www.jinenkanseigi.com/Rear%20Bumper%20Brackets.jpg

Open -
http://www.jinenkanseigi.com/Rear%20Bumper%20Open.jpg

Looks good other than I don't care for how far out the bumper hangs. Looks like a good place to get hung up on a rock. But like you said you will see how it works once you get on the trail. I wish my first bumper would have turned out that nice when I started to fab stuff. It took me two tries to get something decent and it still needs some modifications.

I would not have mounted all that crap on the swinging carrier and that is alot of weight far back for that rear crossmember. Looks ok but kinda goofy set so far back. lets see it in a couple years to find out how it holds up.:smokin:

that is alot of weight far back for that rear crossmember

That's why I tied it into the frame instead of just the crossmember ;)

Nice work, I also think it sticks out too far past the rear of the tub and with all that weight I would think its going to put alot of leverage on the bumper causing it sag or strain the mounting point to the frame. Also it really affects your departure angle but if your using your Jeep for trails and moderate stuff it shouldnt be too much of a hassle. I have a Jeeperman swingout carrier and I do like it but I am more of the mindset to just move all that extra weight/shit inside the tub or just leave it at the trail head...too much weight...still good job on yours.

Funny how someone posts up on here, all proud of their work...Then somebody pisses all in their cheerios. Gotta love the pirate.

look's good. but you just killed your departure angle.

It looks like it does a good job holding everything but...yea...it brings the suck to your depature angle

looks pretty solid.... just go wheel with some 8's and you'll be fine:D

Funny how someone posts up on here, all proud of their work...Then somebody pisses all in their cheerios. Gotta love the pirate.

It's cool, that's why I posted it here - to get some honest feedback. Truth be told, I didn't really think about the departure angle much when I built it, I just built it to fit the gas can in there and figured out ways to mount everything else with the space I had left. It was only after I mounted the bumper that I said "whoa - that sticks out pretty far" :eek:

It's done now though so I'll wheel it until I get tired of getting my bumper stuck on rocks, and then I'll change it. If I don't get stuck much, then it'll stay.

I'm new to fabricating so I really don't know what I'm doing yet, but I figure I'll never learn until I try different things. If this is the worst mistake I make I think I'll be OK. :flipoff2:

Looks good. Similar to a bumper I finished this spring.

You could regain a little of your departure angle by recessing your hitch receiver.

Mine is nearly flush with the bumper. The hole for the pin is behind the bumper.

I think it looks good for a first bumper build. Better than most of the crap so called "professionals" are selling on E-Bay. Everybody has an opinion but we all learn what works and what doesn't by experience. Build it, Wheel it, if you bust it fix it, If it don't work change it!

you could have used 2 supports for your tire instead of 3 and mounted the gas tank over the swing out and prehaps offset the tire. Just thinking out loud.

I like it.

Nice job. I totally understand wanting to get all your crap out of the cab. MY old Heep serves as a grocery getter on occasion, hauls the family, and is often crammed to the gills with everything from camping gear to the weekly trash.

I built a carrier with much the same intention as yours a while back (though mine looked like ass). Except, instead of offsetting my bumper, I offset the carrier at the hinge. It worked well, and I could carry two j.cans, hi-lift, etc. Unfortunatley, I managed to rip the carrier after a slight lapse of judgement at Tellico.:shaking: Those 1" trailer spindles really aren't that strong. My next effort will be sportin a 1.25 grade eight bolt and additional supports to disperse the load. Live & learn.

Again, great job. It's nice to see some home grown fab such as sliders & bumpers every once -n- a while. IMO,A bumper you built yourself is a hell'uva lot more hardcore that some pimped-out shiat that was bought and bolted on.